Fifth-wheel.



Witnesses PATENTED JUNE 4,1907.

H. B. KNIGHT & G. M. COGSWBLL. I

FIFTH WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-16, 1907.

2 sums-45mm 1.

vi: NORRIS Pzrtns 50., WASNINOYON, o. 2

Inventors N0.'s55,954. PATENTED JUNE 4,1907

' H. B. KNIGHT & G. M. GOGSWELL.

FIFTH WHEEL.

2SHEETS-SHEET2.

APPLIOA'I'ION FILED JAN. 16

a e a e m m M r 5 m u n W N. c s R s n P B R O u n r UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

HENRY B. KNIGHT, or BATTLE GREEK, AND GEoRGE M. ooGswELL, OF

. DOWAGIAO, MICHIGAN.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1907.

Application filed January 16, 1907. Serial No- 352,663.

in F ifth-WVheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fifth wheels.

The main object of this invention is to provide an improved rollerbearing short turn use in connection with elliptical springs for thesupport of a vehicle body.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

l/Ve accomplish the objects of our invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying -the features of our invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of .thisspecification, in which:

Figure 1 is a detail plan of our improved fifth wheel. Fig. 2 is adetail transverse section taken on a line corresponding to line 22 ofFig. 1 through the bearing segments showing the form and arrangementthereof and of the arrangement of the rollers. Fig. 3 is a detail frontelevation of our improved fifth wheel, a portion of the upper bearingsegment 4 being broken away to show structural details. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal central section thereof taken on a line corresponding toline 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on a linecorresponding to line 55 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an inverted detail of theupper bearing segments 4. Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the lowerbearing segment 5.

In the drawings the sectional views are taken looking in the directionof the little arrows at the ends of section lines, and similar referencecharacters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the cape.

axle of a vehicle, 2 the head block, and 3 an elliptical spring.

The upper member of our improved fifth wheel consists of the bearingsegment 4, which is channel-shapedin cross sectlon opening downwardly. Across-piece 12 is pro-- vided, forming a seat for the head block 2. Thecross-piece is provided with laterally projecting perforated ears 14.The clips 13 by means of which the head block 2 and spring 3 are securedare arranged through these perforated ears 14. To further aid insecuring the head block upturned flange-like lips 2-3 are provided forthe cross-piece. Projecting rearwardly from this cross-piece 12 arediverging arms 15 upon which the forward ends of the reaches 6 aresecured. On the inner sides of these arms at their forward ends areupturned flange-like lips 16 which assist in retaining the reachesthereon. At the rear ends of the arms 15 is a cross-piece 17 having aking bolt bearing thereon. Extending from the rear ends of the upperbearing segment to the arms 15 arebrace arms 18. This makes a verystrong and at the same time light construction and enables the easysecuring of the parts rigidly thereto.

The lower bearing segment 5 is adapted when the parts are assembled toproject into the upper bearing segment as clearly appears in Fig. 3. Thelower bearing segment is provided with a cross-piece 19 adapted to reston the top of the axle to which it is secured by suitable clips 20. Thearms 21 project rearwardly from the bearing segment and are provided attheir rear ends with a king bolt bearing. To further support the kingbolt 8 and to brace the parts braces 7 extending from the axle to theking bolt are provided, the rear ends of the braces being provided witha suitable king bolt bearing. The clips 20 secure the braces 7 to theaxle.

A pair of bearing rollers 10 provided with suitable journals arearranged in the upper bearing segment, being preferably located slightlyin advance of the head block. These bearing rollers travel upon thelower bearing segment 5, which is provided with a flat face, the bearingportion thereof having a slot 11 therein. See Fig. 7. This allows anydirt which may get into the bearings to es- However, owing to the shapeand arrangement of the bearing members, the bearing portions are veryeffectively protected from the dirt.

To effectively secure the parts of the bearing segments together thesegment 4 is provided with a central downwardly projecting lug or boss22, which projects through the slot 11 in the lower bearing segment. Abolt 9 is arranged through this lug or boss, on the lower end of whichis a nut which serves to retain the parts at this point. See Figs. 4, 5and 6.

By arranging the parts as we have illustrated and described we secure avery rigid and strong construction, although the same may be made ofcomparatively light mate rial. The bearing portions also very readilyfree themselves from dirt. The structure is especially adapted anddesigned by us for use with the double elastic springs, although it maybe adapted for use in connection with other springs.

We have illustrated and described our improved fifth wheel in detail inthe form preferred by us on account of structural simplicity and economyand the strength and rigidity of the parts when so arranged. We are,

.however, aware that it is capable of considerable variation instructural details without departing from our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent, is:

1. In a structure of the class described, the combination with an axle,of a head block; a spring arranged thereon; rearwardly-divergingreaches; an upper member, consisting of a bearing segment channel-shapedin crosssection, opening downwardly, having a centraldownwardly-projecting lug thereon, a cross-piece adapted to receive saidhead block having upwardly-projecting flange-like lips adapted to engagethe same and having perforated ears thereon, a pair of rearwardly-d?verging arms on which said reaches are arranged and secured, said armshaving upwardly-projecting flange-like lips at their inner ends toassist in retaining said reaches, brace arms extending from the ends ofsaid bearing segment to said arms, a cross piece connecting said arms attheir rear ends having a king bolt bearing thereon; clips arranged oversaid springs and head block and through the perforated ears on saidcross piece securing the parts together; a lower member, comprising abearing segment arranged to project into the said upper bearing segmenthaving a longitudinal slot therein adapted to receive the saiddownwardly-projecting lug on said upper bearing segment, a cross piecefor said lower member adapted to rest on the axle, rearwardly projectingconverging arms having a king bolt bearing at their rear ends; a braceextended to the under side of the axle, said bracehaving a king boltbearing thereon clips for securing the parts together and to the axlearranged over the said cross piece of said lower member and through saidbrace; a king bolt; bearing rollers journaled on said upper bearing segment in front of said head block; and a bolt arranged through the saidcentral lug of said upper bearing segment adapted to retain said lowerbearing segment thereon, for the purpose specified.

2. In a structure of the class described, the combination withan axle,of a head block; a spring arranged thereon; rearwardly-divergingreaches; an upper member, consisting of a bearing segment channel-shapedin crosssection, opening downwardly, having a centraldownwardly-projecting lug thereon, a crosspiece adapted to receive saidhead block and having perforated ears thereon, a pair ofrearwardly-diverging arms on which said reaches are arranged andsecured, brace arms extending from the ends of said bearing segment tosaid arms, a cross piece -connect ing said arms at their rear endshaving a king bolt bearing thereon; clips arranged over said springs andhead block and through the perforated ears on said cross piece securingthe parts together; a lower member, comprising a bearing segmentarranged to project into the said upper bearing segment having alongitudinal slot therein adapted to receive the saiddownwardly-projecting lug on said upper bearing segment, a cross piecefor said lower member adapted to rest on the axle, rearwardly projectingconverging arms having a king bolt bearing at their rear ends; a braceextended to the under side of the axle, said brace having a king boltbearing thereon; clips for securing the parts together and to the axlearranged over the said cross piece of said lower member and through saidbrace; a king bolt bearing rollers journaled on said upper bearingsegment in front of said head block; and a bolt arranged through thesaid central lug of said upper bearing segment adapted to retain saidlower bearing segment thereon, for the purpose specified.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination with an axle,of a head block; a spring arranged thereon; rearwardlydiverging reaches;an upper member, consisting of a bearing segment channel-shaped incross-section, opening downwardly, having a centraldownwardly-projecting lug thereon, a cross-piece adapted to receive saidhead block and having perforated ears thereon, a pair ofrearwardly-diverging arms on which said reaches are arranged andsecured, a cross piece connecting said arms at their rear ends having aking bolt bearing thereon; clips arranged over said springs and headblock and through the perforated longitudinal slot therein adapted toreceive the said downwardly-projecting lug on said upper bearingsegment, a cross piece for said lower member adapted to rest on theaxle, rearwardly projecting converging arms having a king bolt bearingat their rear ends; a brace extending to the under side of the axle,said brace having a king bolt bearing thereon; clips for securing theparts together and to the axle arranged over the said cross piece ofsaid lower member and through said brace; aking bolt; bearing rollersjournaled on said upper bearing segment in front of said head block; anda bolt arranged through the said central lug of said upper bearingsegment adapted to retain said lower bearing segment thereon, for thepurpose specified.

4. I11 a structure of the class described, the combination with an axle,of a head block; a spring arranged thereon; rearwardly-divergingreaches; an upper member, consisting of a bearing segment channelshapedin cross-section, opening downwardly, a cross-piece adapted to receivesaid head block and having perforated ears thereon, a pair of rearwardlydiverging arms on which said reaches are arranged and secured, a crosspiece connecting said arms at their rear ends having a king bolt bearingthereon; clips arranged over said springs and head block and through theperforated ears on said cross piece securing the parts together; a lowermember, comprising a bearing segment arranged to project into the saidupper bearing segment, a cross piece for said lower member adapted torest on the axle, rearwardly projecting converging arms having a kingbolt bearing at their rear ends; a brace extended to the under side ofthe axle, said brace hav ing a king bolt bearing thereon; clips forsecuring the parts together and to the axle arranged over the said crosspiece of said lower member and through said brace; a king bolt; andbearing rollers journaled on said upper bearing segment, for the purposespecified.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination with an axle,of a head block; a spring arranged thereon; a reach; an upper fifthwheel member, consisting of a bearing segment channel-shaped incrosssection, opening downwardly, having a central downwardly-projectinglug thereon, and having a rearwardly projecting arm having a king boltbearing thereon, secured to said reach and head block; a lower member,comprising a bearing segment arranged to proj ect into the said upperbearing segment having a longitudinal slot therein adapted to receivethe said downwardly-projectinglug on said upper bearing segment, and arearwardly projecting arm having a king .bolt bearing secured to theaxle; a brace, having a king bolt bearing thereon extending to the underside of the axle; a king bolt; bearing rollers j ournaled on said upperbearing segment in front of said head block, and a bolt arranged throughthe said central lug of said upper bearing segment adapted to retainsaid lower bearing segment thereon, for the purpose specified.

6. In a structure of the class described, the combination with an axle,of a head block; a s ring arranged thereon; a reach; anupper .ifth wheelmember, consisting of a bearing segment channel-shaped in crosssection,opening downwardly, having a central downwardly-projecting lug thereon,and having a rearwardly projecting arm having a king bolt bearingthereon, secured to said reach and head block; a lower member,comprising a bearing segment arranged to proj ect into the said upperbearing segment having a longitudinal slot therein adapted to receivethe said downwardly-projecting lug on said upper bearing segment, and arearwardly projecting arm secured to the axle, said arm having a kingbolt bearing thereon; bearing rollers jonrnaled on said upper bearingsegment in front of said head block, and a bolt arranged through thesaid central lug of said upper bearing segment adapted to retain saidlower bearing segment thereon, for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals in thepresence of two witnesses.

HENRY B. KNIGHT. [L. s.]

GEORGE M. COGSVVELL. [L. s.] WVitnesses FRED RATHBUN,

CALVIN FORBES.

